Multi-Megawatt Power System Trade Study

Longhurst, Glen Reed ; Schnitzler, Bruce Gordon ; Parks, Benjamin Travis

Idaho National Laboratory

关键词: Pump Turbines;    Electric Motors;    Gallium;    Sodium;    Potassium;   

DOI  :  10.2172/910681
RP-ID  :  INEEL/EXT-01-00913
RP-ID  :  DE-AC07-99ID-13727
RP-ID  :  910681

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

As part of a larger task, the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) was tasked to perform a trade study comparing liquid-metal cooled reactors having Rankine power conversion systems with gas-cooled reactors having Brayton power conversion systems. This report summarizes the approach, the methodology, and the results of that trade study. Findings suggest that either approach has the possibility to approach the target specific mass of 3-5 kg/kWe for the power system, though it appears either will require improvements to achieve that. Higher reactor temperatures have the most potential for reducing the specific mass of gas-cooled reactors but do not necessarily have a similar effect for liquid-cooled Rankine systems. Fuels development will be the key to higher reactor operating temperatures. Higher temperature turbines will be important for Brayton systems. Both replacing lithium coolant in the primary circuit with gallium and replacing potassium with sodium in the power loop for liquid systems increase system specific mass. Changing the feed pump turbine to an electric motor in Rankine systems has little effect. Key technologies in reducing specific mass are high reactor and radiator operating temperatures, low radiator areal density, and low turbine/generator system masses. Turbine/generator mass tends to dominate overall power system mass for Rankine systems. Radiator mass was dominant for Brayton systems.